Mary Papoulias Platis
Mary Papoulias Platis is a native Californian, born and raised in San Diego. Her parents immigrated from Greece, settling in San Diego. Since she was a child, Mary’s favorite pass-time was spending countless hours playing with her brothers and cousins along the coast in breathtaking San Diego.
Education and Careers
Mary stayed in Southern California to pursue a college education. She graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a teaching credential, and a master’s in computer education. She has always been most passionate about teaching students how to read and write. Mary has taught many years in North County San Diego, and over the years has continued to create innovative ways of engaging her students. One of her favorite tactics is to include cooking classes into her lesson plan!
In addition to her teaching career, Mary opened the first children’s bookstore in North County San Diego called “The Reading Patch”. Here, she held author signings, live events, art classes, and wrote a children’s newsletter that was sent out to the local teachers and parents. While Mary has enjoyed her many years as an educator, she has also loved being a culinary chef.
Current Work
Mary has been a food blogger for over 20 years, at California Greek Girl, where she writes about her family’s Greek culture and recipes. She is the author of her cookbook, “Cooking Techniques with Olive Oil” and over the years, Mary has been the brand-ambassador for Bragg Live Foods and their Greek Olive Oil. Her cookbook allowed Mary to travel to olive groves, olive oil stores, and become an expert on olive oil with her completion of her olive oil certification from U.C. Davis.
Owner of Ethos Culinary School and Events
She currently has opened her new culinary school, Ethos Culinary in Carlsbad, California. More information on Ethos Culinary, can be found at the website: www.ethosculinary.com. Here, with many years of experience in the food industry, she presents culinary events, farmer’s dinner, classes, and individual instruction to her clients. Mary stays busy writing her next cookbook, developing recipes for her classes and events. Mary’s interests are about her travels along the beautiful California coastline, as well as her enjoyment of Greek cooking, gardening, and the lifestyle that she has created with her family and friends over the years.
You can reach me for special engagements, food demonstrations, cooking classes, or catering events at my email me : mary@californiagreekgirl.com or ethosculinary.com.
Facebook: California Greek Girl
Best in Health,
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Hello from California Greek Girl. I’m the owner of Ethos Culinary located in the beautiful city of Carlsbad. Join me as we explore California’s bounty of foods, farmlands, and culinary experts. I’m looking forward to bringing you Greek, Mediterranean and Plant-Forward Cuisines. OPA!
{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
Love your website! It looks great…Thank-you again for the wonderful spano and donuts yesterday…Your food is always sooo good..hope to see you soon will be checking in on blog for more great recipes..Debra
Thanks Debra for the great comment. It means a lot to me coming from a great cook like yourself!
Thanks for creating the website, Mary. The recipes look delicious. I am going to explore a couple food demonstration/talk opportunities.
Continued success!
It was so nice seeing you again! I would love to speak or demonstrate my Greek recipes.
Hi Mary,
Finally got to your website. It’s really wonderful. I downloaded the Rizogalo recipe and can’t wait to try it. I still need a good recipe for melomakarna.
Love your herb garden. We’ve been trying to grow herbs on our side yard, and have finally been successful. Love fresh herbs!!!
Nicky, I’m happy you found me! The rice pudding is Helen’s version , we have been cooking it for years! Melos are coming soon! My herbs are going crazy, First time because they’re in beds and I can control the soil and moisture! Enjoy!
Hi Mary: You wouldn’t happen to have a recipe for a type of baklava incorporates fresh pumpkin in your bag of tricks would you? I can’t remember the Greek name for it but it is absolutely delicious at a Seattle restaurant I go to often and my online searches haven’t turned up anything quite right.
Hi Mary, Your garden is amazing. In only one month. What is your secret? Really, tell tell. Mine will never look as good as yours. I bet those tomatoes are as wonderful as they look. I brought your wonderful salsa to three different events. Everyone raved, and I sent them all to your site. In addition to looking beautiful and tasting great, there isn’t one fattening ingredient. Thanks again.
Yes, this dish is called:Kolokithopita(pumpkin pie). I traveled to Greece to my mother’s hometown just for this recipe. Not one person had it! My mother made it and it was delicious.Vefa’s kitchen has the recipe and I have seen many variations in my collection of Greek cookbooks. I will post it and send it your way shortly! What resturant in Seattle,going there in August? I would love to try it. Thank-you for visiting,Mary
Yes, that’s it! Thank you so much. I wish pumpkin season weren’t already upon us, but at least now I have something to look forward to. The Seattle restaurant is called Georgia’s Deli and it’s in the Greenwood neighborhood. Casual, reasonable, and they have fun Greek-style breakfasts too–chicken souvlaki eggs and quince jam for the toast! Gorgeous George’s and Lola (a Tom Douglas resto) are also good for Greek fare in Seattle. Thank you again, I am really excited to make Kolokithopita.
Your site and blog are beautiful — what a pleasure to sit and read.
Thank you Brooks, it was so nice meeting you! Your site is lovely, and I hope I can order from you soon!
Love the site Mary- very cool
Thanks, I hope you visit again!
Hi Mary,
I have been enjoying your website — the articles, recipes, stories and pictures. Your pantyhose story is a “classic” and it jarred a childhood memory of my own of my Mom buying pantyhose to send to the relatives back to Greece . I will surely check back periodically.
Hope to see you soon…
Hi Mary,
I have never gotten the chance to tell you just how much I enjoy your amazing good. In Highschool, Nick had people over for a BBQ and you made the (hands down) BEST bbq lemon chicken I have EVER tasted. Whatever was in that marinade was simply mouth-watering, props to everything you do!
Love,
Tracy Phillips
Thank-you Tracy! It’s amazing you remember the chicken! Happy Holidays! Mary
love the website!
you should also try uploading cooking videos on youtube!
Hello Mary!
I found your website from Greg ( Greek America Magazine ) and I love it! It is very stylish! I like to cook but I do not use a lot of oil like many Greeks do.
I currently live in Greece but my sister lives in La Jolla and my parents have a house there, so I visit more than once a year.
It is interesting to see what Greeks do in San Diego!!!
Happy Holidays!
Nina Papaioannou
Trendsurvivor
Hello Nina,
My mother is from Korintos and taught us how to cook much lighter and with less fat. So, enjoy the quinoa grape leaves, ,bulgar artichoke, and bulgar stufifng recipe! I try hard to use different gtians as well! Thank-you for visiting my site!
Kala Xristouyena!
Mary
Greetings Mary, just met Mike at Epicentre, Madison, WI. He said that you like gardening–in WI growing plants is a challenge! I will read your site to find some red pepper hummus recipes. jo
Hello Mary! Now my blog from Greece is in English as well: “Greek Salad”( but it’s not a food-blog even if I put recipes now and then). I will put a link to your blog because I think it will interest my readers – you have a nice blog!
Φιλάκια
What a wonderful page you have! I’ll be back to try out some recipes. Looks great!
Mary, I love your site, at least what I have seen in the little time I am here.
It’s wonderful connecting with you through The Greek World Dinner. You are a beautiful and very talented young woman and look forward to journeying with you.
Wishing you all the best,
Katina
Thank-you Katina! This Greek Dinner experience has introduced me to such fine people- like yourself!
Hi: Do you know an acceptable substitute for Haloumi Cheese? Thanks Elaine
Hi Elaine,
That’s a very good question. It has frying elements that no other cheese has, without melting.
I read Queso Blanco a Mexican cheese might work.
Good Luck,
Mary